How to Memorize Abstract Concepts When They Don’t Fit Your Preferred “Style”
As a problem-solver, you excel when you have a clear method. But what happens when you face a concept with no physical shape, color, or sound—like advanced mathematics, abstract philosophy, or economic theory? These subjects seem resistant to the VAK/multimodal strategies that work for concrete topics.
The solution is not to force the abstract material into a single, comfortable sensory channel, but to use a set of translation strategies. You must deliberately convert the abstract concept into a memorable, concrete, and multimodal form, leveraging elaboration and dual coding for superior learning styles and memory.
1. The Analogy/Metaphor Translation 💡
Abstract concepts are difficult because they lack a direct, sensory reference point. The most powerful way to conquer this is to link the new, abstract idea to an old, concrete one you already know.
- The Strategy (Elaboration): For every abstract concept, create a vivid analogy or metaphor from the physical world.
- Actionable Step:
- Abstract Concept: The “Social Contract” in philosophy.
- Concrete Analogy: Visualize it as a “shared lease agreement” for an apartment building (society). Everyone agrees to sacrifice personal freedoms (a messy room) in exchange for shared security (the roof over their heads).
- The Follow-up: Don’t just think the analogy; draw the analogy (Visual/Kinesthetic) and verbally explain how the analogy works (Auditory/Elaboration). This forces a multimodal encoding of the abstract concept.
2. The Visual-Spatial Mapping Technique 🗺️
Even non-visual ideas have structure. By assigning a spatial layout or a simple shape to the logic, you engage the powerful visual and spatial memory centers of the brain.
- The Strategy (Visual-Spatial Encoding): For sequential or relational logic (like an economic model or a philosophical argument), map its structure, not its imagery.
- Actionable Step:
- For Logical Sequence: Use a flowchart to map the steps of a complex proof. Use a different color for the cause, the effect, and the exceptions. The flow of the arrows becomes the visual memory cue.
- For Relational Concepts: Use a Venn diagram or a simple concept map to show how different theories (e.g., three different economic schools of thought) overlap or diverge. The spatial position on the page becomes a memory trigger.
- The Benefit: You are turning the abstract logical relationships into a concrete, visual geography that your brain is highly specialized in remembering.
3. The Kinesthetic “Embodiment” Strategy 🤸
Movement and physical action can be used to anchor abstract concepts by making them feel like a process or an object.
- The Strategy (Motor Encoding): Use specific, repetitive physical movements or gestures to represent the core mechanism of the concept.
- Actionable Step:
- For Opposing Forces: If studying concepts like inflation and deflation, use your two hands. Move one hand up sharply (Inflation, high prices) while moving the other hand down (value of money decreases). The physical tension and movement becomes a kinesthetic memory cue.
- For Stages or Hierarchies: Use pacing or walking to assign each stage of a theory (e.g., Maslow’s Hierarchy) to a physical spot in the room, climbing the “stairs” of the theory as you recite the stages.
- The Benefit: The muscle memory from the gesture is a redundant, durable pathway that allows for easier retrieval of the abstract idea.
4. The Verbal-Retrieval Challenge 🗣️
Because abstract concepts are often definition-heavy, the final, most essential step is to use the auditory/verbal channel for Active Recall.
- The Strategy (Active Recall): Force yourself to articulate the complex concept in the simplest possible language without using your notes.
- Actionable Step:
- The Plain-Language Test: Write the complex definition on one side of an index card. On the back, write a single, plain-language sentence explaining the concept to a five-year-old.
- The Teacher Test: Close your materials and verbally explain the abstract concept and its concrete analogy to an imaginary student. If you stumble, it reveals a gap in your learning styles and memory.
- The Benefit: The struggle to translate jargon into simple language is a high-effort process that locks in the precise semantic meaning required to master abstract subjects.
Common FAQ Section (10 Questions and Answers)
1. Is it easier for Read/Write learners to memorize abstract concepts? A: Not necessarily. Read/Write learners are comfortable with the jargon, but abstract concepts still require elaboration and connection to be retained, which is difficult for all learners.
2. What is the biggest mistake when creating an analogy for an abstract concept? A: The biggest mistake is creating an analogy that is too complex or doesn’t accurately map the logical relationships. Keep the analogy simple and test its accuracy.
3. How can I use the visual approach to remember abstract math formulas? A: Draw a visual representation of what the formula does, not just the symbols. For example, the volume formula could be drawn as a 3D box you are mentally filling up.
4. Why is using gesture for kinesthetic learning better than just rocking in my chair? A: Purposeful gesture is directly linked to the content (representing a force, sequence, or size). Rocking is undirected movement (fidgeting) that does not create a memory link to the material.
5. How do I prevent the analogy from becoming the thing I remember instead of the concept? A: By using Active Recall. Quiz yourself: “What is the philosophical term for this ‘lease agreement’ analogy?” Force your brain to retrieve the original abstract term, not just the analogy.
6. Does turning an abstract concept into a story (narrative) help with memory? A: Yes, this is a powerful form of elaboration. Our brains are wired for narrative, and placing abstract ideas into a sequence of events makes them more cohesive and memorable.
7. Is it better to draw the conceptual map by hand or on a computer for abstract topics? A: Drawing by hand is often superior. The fine motor movements and the personalized, unique spatial layout created by hand-drawing enhance the encoding process for learning styles and memory.
8. If I use a multimodal strategy, do I still need Spaced Repetition? A: Yes. Multimodal encoding creates a stronger memory trace, but only Spaced Repetition (reviewing at increasing intervals) can guarantee the memory trace lasts into the long term.
9. How do I use the auditory channel when I’m studying alone? A: Use self-explanation. Read the definition of the abstract idea and then, without notes, immediately explain it out loud until the explanation is simple and logical.
10. Can I “chunk” a very large abstract concept? A: Yes. Break the abstract concept into 3-5 distinct, manageable sub-components (chunks). Master and apply the multimodal strategies to each chunk before trying to integrate the whole.